Forces and Braking

How do you calculate stopping distance ?

Stopping distance = braking distance + thinking distance

What is thinking distance ?

The distance a vehicle travels during the drivers reaction time

What is braking distance ?

The distance a vehicle travels once the brakes have been applied

What is stopping distance ?

The distance a vehicle travels to safely come to a stop after the driver has spotted a hazard.

What factors affect thinking distance ?

• Speed of vehicle

• Reaction time

What can affect a drivers reaction time?

drugs

tiredness

distractions

Explain the ways of measuring a persons reaction time

Computer - A computer can be used to time how long it takes for someone to react to a image or sound on a screen

Ruler drop test - A ruler is dropped in between someones hands and the distance it travels before they catch it can be used to measure their reaction time

What are factors that afffetc braking distance ?

• speed of the vehicle

• Mass of the vehicle

This is because they both increase the vehicles kinetic energy, which needs to be reduced to zero in order for the vehicle to stop.

• Condition or quality of the brakes

This is because if they are faulty, then they wont slow the car as quickly therefore the car will travel further before it stops.

• Road conditions

  For example, if the road is wet or icy, then there would be less friction between the tires and the road which can cause the car to skid increasing the braking distance.